RiverWoods Renews Major Charitable Partnership with Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Exeter

RiverWoods Renews Major Charitable Partnership with Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Exeter

RiverWoods Renews Major Charitable Partnership with Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Exeter

Outreach effort to culminate in October 2016 Gala fundraiser with fellow nonprofit.

Residents at RiverWoods Retirement Community have selected Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Exeter as the recipient of the retirement community’s two year partnership to culminate in a major fundraising Gala event in the fall of 2016 at RiverWoods in Exeter, NH.

From the first year RiverWoods opened, the community has held a fundraiser for another local non-profit. The most recent RiverWoods Gala Auction raised a record $100,000 for SVdP. The record breaking evening was held at RiverWoods Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Exeter in October 2014 with more than 400 in attendance. RiverWoods staff and residents and SVdP volunteers donated hundreds of hours of time during the two year partnership.

“Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Exeter fills a vital and growing need in this community.” said RiverWoods Outreach Committee Co-Chair, Penny Teodorczyk. “Our renewed partnership is an opportunity for RiverWoods residents and staff to make a positive and sustainable impact for Seacoast residents in need. Everyone involved in the partnership quite simply excels at helping people through donations and volunteerism. We’re excited to keep the momentum going for the 2016 Gala.”

The goal of the RiverWoods biennial Gala has always been to help a fellow local non-profit. Last year’s goal was to work with a non-profit focusing on issues of family health and well-being. The retirement community’s two decade long tradition of investing in social capital has meant tens of thousands of dollars for local charities including Child and Family Services of NH, Seacoast Hospice and the New Outlook Teen Center just to name a few.

Typically, every two years, Residents at RiverWoods call for non-profits to apply for the major partnership. The most recent partnership with SVdP went so well that RiverWoods residents decided to build on that strength and momentum for an additional two years. The two organizations are already gearing up for needs drives and plan to partner on a parade float project leading up to this year’s Exeter Holiday Parade. RiverWoods will announce a call for a new charitable partner in early 2017, after the current partnership with SVdP wraps up late next year.

With more than 140 volunteers, SVdP Exeter Community Center & Food Pantry helps families and individuals in poverty 5 days a week in a variety of ways including; a food pantry, providing emergency financial aid, homeless assistance, budget counseling, dental and medical services as well as a job resource center. SVdP Exeter collaborates with other agencies to provide on-site; tax preparation, NH Employment Security, Medicaid enrollment, fuel assistance and homeless outreach. SVdP Exeter was founded in 1989, and assists thousands of people each year. Both organizations feel the value of this partnership is shown not only in dollars, but in the strength it brings to the greater community.

“Society of St. Vincent de Paul Exeter is honored to have been once again chosen by RiverWoods as their partner,” says Cleo Castonguay, President of Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “People need our help and this continued partnership allows us to expand and update programs in order to best serve people struggling in poverty”.